Tags:
Information Bulletin
Alcohol
As liquor retail expands to licensed convenience stores on September 5 and grocery stores on October 31, new amendments made by the Ontario Government to Regulation 746/21: Licensing and Regulation 750/21: Minimum Pricing of Liquor and Other Pricing Matters under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA), are now in effect.
Changes have been made to the following key requirements:
- Removal of Contiguous Product Display Requirement
Licensed convenience and grocery stores are no longer required to display all alcohol that is sold in their stores in a single contiguous product display area. This amendment allows retailers greater flexibility in how and where they display alcohol in their store and is intended to make it easier for licensees to configure the space in their stores for the sale of liquor products. The prohibition against displaying energy drinks and products that promote immoderate consumption of liquor immediately adjacent to liquor will remain to ensure the safe and responsible sale of alcohol. - Removal of Uniform Liquor Pricing Requirement
Uniform pricing for alcohol is no longer required for retailers outside of the LCBO retail network. This change allows retail licensees the flexibility to independently set their own prices for alcohol, if it remains above the minimum retail price – See the LCBO’s Minimum Retail Pricing Guide for more details. Additionally, retail licensees no longer need to include all taxes and container deposits in the price displayed for alcohol. - Loyalty Points on Alcohol Purchases
Retail licensees are now permitted to accept benefits issued under a loyalty or rewards marketing program, such as coupons, tickets, points, or rewards, as full or partial payment for liquor. Additionally, licensees may allow customers to exchange, convert, or redeem these benefits for cash that is applied to payment for liquor. It is important to note that a prohibition remains in effect for licensees offering free or discounted merchandise contingent upon the purchase of liquor.
Support and Contact Information
- Compliance Support: Visit our Compliance Support webpage to find additional tools and resources to help you understand Ontario’s alcohol laws.
- AGCO Inspectors: If you have questions or need assistance, your local AGCO Inspectors are available to help. If you are unsure who your Inspector is, or have misplaced their contact information, please email Compliance@agco.ca with your address to get connected.
- Customer Service: Reach out to AGCO Customer Service via the iAGCO online portal or call us Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at (416)-326-8700 or toll free at 1-(800)-522-2876.